The historic covered market at the heart of old Hofuf, one of the largest traditional markets in Saudi Arabia and among the oldest in the Eastern Province. The souq sells dates in dozens of varieties (Al-Ahsa's Khalas dates are among the most prized in the Gulf), prayer beads, traditional robes (thobe and abaya), copper and brass goods, incense, frankincense, and handmade silver jewellery. The covered lanes keep it cooler than the streets outside, and the light filtering through the roof creates an atmosphere unchanged in its essentials from the Ottoman era.
Come in the morning for the best selection and the most activity. The date stalls are the centrepiece: you will be offered samples without obligation, and the variety of dates — soft Khalas, drier varieties, stuffed dates, date pastes — is extraordinary for anyone accustomed to the homogenous boxes sold in Western supermarkets. Budget at least an hour, more if you like to wander and have conversations with vendors.